Moistening mechanism



R. F. MORRISON ET AL MOISTENING MECHANISM Feb. 3, 1942.

Filed Aug. 3, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS.

Feb. 3, 1942. R. F. MORRISON ET AL MOISTENING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 3, 1939 Feb. 3, 1942. R. F. MORRISON ET AL MOISTENING MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug.v 5, 1959 .anw lll/.fyi

MWWWVWWVWM INVENTQRS ATTORNEYS.

, parts combined therewith Patented Feb. 3, 1942 2,271,801 MOISTENING MECHANISM Robert F. Morrison Park, Ill., asslgnors and Eric W. Peterson, Oak to Ditto, Incorporated, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of West Virginia 4rApplication August 3, 1939, Serial No. 288,194

14 Claims.

This invention relates to moistening mechanisms of a type adapted for use in connection with liquid process duplicating machines for applying a solventI upon a roller provided for feeding copy sheets vinto the machine so as to apply a thin iilm of the solvent to the face of each copy sheet in turn as it moves forwardly. It is the object of the invention to provide a new and improved form and arrangement of parts by which improved results shall be obtained in the application of solvent to the roller in the form of a lm for transfer to the copy sheets.

In most of the several forms of arrangement shown, a unit form of device is employed, comprising a cushion of rubber, felt, cork, wood, .or the like, with two wiper parts mounted on a selected face of the cushion near its opposite edges, such wiper parts being formed of felt, chamois, suede, cloth, fur, or rubber, and arranged so that said wiper parts may by a reversal of the position of the cushion upon its support be brought alternatively into engagement with the sheet forwarding vroller for eecting an even distribution of solvent fed to the roller. vIn some forms of the device, the two wiper parts at opposite edges of the cushion member are formed separately from each other, while wiper parts comprise merely the contact portions of a bearing face member extending entirely across the selected face of the cushion. In at least one form shown, kthe wiper part is in the form of a brush adapted to operate in onlyone position of the cushion, and in another form contact is maintained with the roller across substantially its entire face. In most of the forms illustrated, the wiper partsare formed o f absorbent material, but in someinstances the wiper parts are of yielding material but not absorbent.

In all of the forms of the device as shown, the cushion is in the form of a in unit ,form so as to be readily insertable in position in the supporting member. In some ofthe forms of the device, the wiper parts are in the form of tubes of absorbent material mounted about the' cushion bar and arranged so as to permit the unit to be placed in any of four equally eiective positions. f

It is one of the objects of this invention to improve moistening mechanisms of this type in sundry details as hereinafter pointed out. The preferredA means by which the several objects of the invention have been attained are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 isa vertical sectional viewshown diaof normal operative position,

in other forms said two bar having 'the wiper fo Cl. S31-48) grammatically through a portion of a duplicating machine;

Fig. 2 is a front face view of some of the parts as shown in Fig. 1 but with the moistening pad and its supporting means swung downwardly out and with some of the parts shown in vertical section;

Figs. 3 to 10 inclusive show in vertical cross section modified forms of unit moistening pad structures adapted for use with the pad mounting means of the machine as shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 11 is a vertical cross sectional view through still another modified form of unit moistening pad means mounted in pol ition in a suitable supporting device of the type illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 12 is a vertical cross sectional view through still another modied'form of moistening device applied in position upon a sheet feeding roller; and

Figs. 13 to 18 inclusive are vertical cross sectiona. views through other modified forms of unit moistening pad structures adapted for use with the pad mounting and supporting means of the machine as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, 25 indicates the drum of a liquid process duplicating machine of any suitable type. Below the drum 25, there is an impression roller 26 rotatably mounted in pos'tion by meansof a shaft 21 as is usual in machines of this type. At a short distance in rear of the platen or impression roller 28 (at the left in Fig. l), two rollers 28 and 29 are rotatably mounted in cooperative relation to each other for feeding a copy sheet toward the right in said Fig. 1 into engagement between the drum 25 and the platen 26. The roller 28 is of course to be driven at the same surface speed as that at which the drum 25 is driven, such parts being driven by any suitable means not shown. In rear of the feed rollers ,28 and 29, a table 30 is provided, having side guide plates 3l and'a top guide plate 32 thereon for directing sheets of paper to the bite of the feed rollers 28 and 29.

The means as shown in ing a quantity of solvent upon the face of the roller 28 comprises a bar 33 of sponge rubber provided withv strips 34 of felt at opposite edge portions of' its front face, the lower one only of the two felt strips 34 being held in engagement with the face of the roller 28 as hereinafter described. Solvent is applied to the face of the roller 28 by means of a p ipe 35 fixedly mounted Figs. 1 and 2 for applyin position and having a series oi openings 36 through its wall, only one oi' such openings being shown in Fig. 1. In the arrangement shown,

the solvent is delivered to the pipe 35 by means oi a second pipe I1 positioned inside oi the pipe 35. the pipe 31 being connected by a suitable tube 3l with any suitable source of solvent under pressure. As is shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the pipe 31 is provided with openings 39 in its wall for the escape'oi the solvent i'rom said pipe 31 into the interior oi' the pipe 35. In the arrangement shown, the openings I6 are so positioned as to cause the solvent to be sprayed from the pipe. 3l directly on the faceoi the roller 28.

'I'he means for supporting the moistening pad unit comprising the bar 33 and the strips 54 includes a supporting member 40 in the rorm or a channel made of sheet metal bent into form. This supporting means is substantially in accordance with the showing of a prior application in the name of Morrison, Serial No. 285,492, and forms no part of this present invention. The construction and operation of the supporting means will accordinglyv be described very briefly.

In the arrangement shown, the channel member 40 is provided atopposite ends with downwardly extending arm portions 4I which are pivotally connected at their lower ends with plates 42 which in turn are pivotally mounted upon bolts or pins 43 extending inwardly from the adjacent frame bars 44 oi the machine, each oi' such plates 42 being provided with an outwardly extending lug 45 at its front edge portion. Below the pins 43, brackets 48 yaro provided for pivotally supporting arms 41 which are provided with inwardly extending plate portions 4I which engage the iront faces of the lugs 45. Pins or bolts 49 are pivotallly mounted upon the brackets 46 and extend rearwardly through openings in the plates 48, having coiled springs 55 mounted on their rear end portions between the plates 48 and thumb nuts 5l secured by means o! screwthreads on said pins 49. The arrangement is such that when the nuts I are adjusted longitudinally of the pins 49, the pressure of the springs 5|! upon the arms 41 and the plates 48 is varied for applying a controlled pressure upon the lugs 45 and the plates 42. The arrangement is such that with the parts in the position as shown in Fig. l the springs 50 apply a forward pressure upon the lower edge portion of the bar 33 for pressing the wiper strip I4 with an ad- `iustable degree of pressure against the roller 2l.

Latch means 52 are pivotally mounted upon the plates 42 in any suitable manner adapted by engagement with pins 53 carried by the supporting member 40 for holding such supporting member in elevated position as shown in Fig. 1. When access is desired tothe bar or cushion Il and the wiper members 34 for adjusting or replacing them, the latches 52 may be released from the pins 53 whereupon the supporting member 4I is adapted to swing rearwardly and downwardly into the position as shown in Fig. 2, the

Y table 30 and its connected parts beingilrst removed from the machine.

In the construction illustrated, the plates 42 are connected together bya cross plate bar 54 for holding the parts rigidly in position witherespect to each other and for providing a stop for limiting the upward and forwardswinging movement of vthe support 40 and the bar I3 carrying the wiper members 34. A shield 55 is also provided between the spray mechanism and the Fig,- 3. In Fig. 5, a bar Il drum l25 ior preventing splashing oi' the solvent upon the drum.

The arrangement is such that the bar Il can be very easily and quickly reversed in position in the supporting channel 4I. for bringing either one oi the wiper strips 84 into position for engaging the roller 2l as may be desired.

In Fig. 3, a modined form of moistening pad unit is shown comprising a bar 5I or sponge rubber covered by a wiping member 51 in the form oi' a tube formed or chamois. It will be understood that this Fig. 3 unit can be placed in four diii'erent operative positions within the supportingchannelsoastobringanedgeportionoi' ist face into operative engagement with the roll- The arrangement in Fig. 4 is similar to that shown in Fig. 3, except that the bar 5l or sponge rubber in provided with a tube 58 formed of telt in lieu oi the tube formed of chamois as shown in of sponge rubber is provided having strips-4I formed of terry cloth secured on its operative thereof in position to be brought alternatively into engagement with the roller 2l when the bar is mounted in the supporting channel 4l.

In Fig. 6, a modined form' of moistening unit is shown comprising a bar 5| o! hard rubber provided with grooves l2 in its face adjacent to its opposite edge portions, said grooves 52 having strips `83 oi felt mounted therein, such strips I3 being oi such size as to extend outwardly beyond the face of the block or bar 5I so as to be adapted to have eiiective engagement with the roller 24 when the bar is substituted iortthe bar Il as shown in Flg. 1.

In Fig. "I, a similar bar 5| is provided with a modified form of wiping means mounted therel In the arrangement of means comprises strips I4 of sponge rubber surrounded by tubular members 55 formed of felt.

In Fig.` 8, a bar il of hard rubber is shown provided with grooves 51 in its tace having a diiferent type or wiping members mounted therein. The improved wiping members of this construction comprise metal tubes Il covered by tubes W of i'elt. v v

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 9, a block or bar 1l of sponge rubber is provided with a brush 1| secured on one face oi' the bar with its bristles 12 located at one edge portion of the operative tace of the device. The bar 10 is adapted to ilt in the channel supporting member 40 in the same position as that occupied by the bar 33 so as to bring the bristles 12 into operative engagement with the face of the roller 2l.

In Fig. 10, a bar 1I oi sponge rubber is provided having a strip of suede 14 secured to its face, said strip 14 being of the same width as that oi' the bar so as to provide wiping parts at both edge portions of the face oi' the bar for engagement with the roller 28.

are adapted'alternatively to engage the roller 2l oi the construction `as shown in Fig. l.

In the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 12, a modified form of supporting channel for the face at the edge portions Fig. '1, the wiping' moistening pad unit is provided. In this construction a channel 80 is provided adapted to be mounted in position in place of the channel 40, such support 80 being provided with downwardly extending arms 80a at its ends corresponding to the arms shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Within the channel support 80, a bar 8| of wood is mounted serving as a backing member forbar 82 of sponge rubber, the bar 82 being cut out to correspond to the shape ofthe roller 28 so as to present open pores at its surface adjacent to the roller. The arrangement is such that the wiping member 82 serves very effectively for spreading and equalizng the liquid on the face ofthe roller asthe roller rotates.

In Fig. 13, the bar member 83 is made of felt, and the wiper member 84 is in the form 'of a sheet of rubber composition such as the product available in the market and known as cropax. The bar 83 is of a size" to t snugly within the channel supporting member Ill.

In the Fig. 14 construction, Aa, bar 85 of felt is provided covered by a wiping member in the form of a tube 86 of chamois and arranged so as to fit within the channel supporting member 40 in any of four different adjusted positions.

In Fig. l5, a bar 81 of cork is provided covered by a wiping member 88V in the form of a tube of fabric also arranged for convenient substitution in place of the unit comprising the bar 33.

In the modified formv of device as shown in Fig. 16, a bar 89 of sponge rubber is shown having mounted on its face a sheet 90 of smooth rubber extending the full width of the bar 89 so as to be insertable in either of two alternative positions within the channel 40. Ithas been found that a smooth rubber wiper member is effective for spreading and equalizing the solvent upon the roller 28 even though such member 90 is not absorbent.

The arrangement in Fig. 17 is similar to that shown in Fig. 16, except that the bar 9i is formed of felt rather than of sponge rubber.

In the construction of Fig. 18, a 'bar 92 of sponge rubber is provided having strips 93 of fur secured along the edge portions of its operative face in position alternatively to engage the roller 28 when the unit is in position in the channel supporting member 4U.

By the arrangement above described, including a considerable number of alternative forms capable of being substituted one for the other, highly eiective means has been provided for applying a very thin uniform film of solvent to the face of a roller. While the forms of structure as illustrated are preferred, the invention is not to be limited to the arrangement shown except so far as the claims are so limited,v since changes might well be made in the structure without departing from the invention.

We claim:

1. A wiper device a roller of a wet process duplicating machine for distributing moisture on for the application of a film of the moisture to a ysheet moving forwardly in contact with the roller, comprising in combination a supporting member movable toward and from said roller, 'means for moving the supporting member toward the roller, a pad member mounted on said supporting member'so as to be movable thereby 'into pressure relationship with said roller and .adustable manually on the supporting member for.' bringing4 different facel portions of the pad member into operative position, and wiper means Il of the arrangementl mounted on the face of said pad member ata plurality of different face portions thereof in such position that upon movements of the supporting member toward the roller a selected portion of the wiper means is pressed against the face of the roller as controlled by the adjustment of the pad member.

2. A wiper device for distributing moisture on a roller of a wet process duplicating machine for the application of a iilm of the moisture to a sheet moving forwardly in contact with the roller, comprising in combination a supporting member movable toward and from said roller, a pad member mounted on said supporting member so as to be movable thereby into pressure relationship with said roller and vreversible manually on the supporting member for bringing different face portions of the pad into operative position, wiper means of absorbent material mounted'on the face of said pad member at a plurality of different face portions that upon movements of the supporting member toward the roller a selected portion of the wiper means is pressed against the face of the roller as controlled by the adjustment of the pad member, and yielding means adapted normally to press said pad member against said roller.

. 3. A wiper device for distributing moisture on a roller of a wet process duplicating machine for the application of a film of the moistureto a sheet moving forwardly in contact with the roller, comprising in combination a supporting member movable toward and from said roller, means for moving the supporting member toward the roller, a pad member formed of resilient compressible material on said supporting member so as to be movable thereby into pressure relationon the supporting member for bringing diiferent face portions of the pad memberinto operative position, and wiper means mounted on the face of said pad member at a plur'alityof different face portions thereof in such position that-upon movements of the supporting member toward the roller a selected portion of the-wiper means is pressed against the face of the roller as controlled by the adjustment of the pad member.

4. A wiper device for distributing' moisture on a roller of a wet process duplicating machine for the application of a film of the moisture to a sheet moving forwardly in contact with the roller, comprising in combination a supporting member movable toward and from said roller, means for moving the supporting member toward the roller, a pad member in the form of an elongated bar of resilient compressible material on said supporting member so as to be movable thereby into pressure relationship with said roller and adjustable manually on the supporting member for bringing diierent face portions of the pad member into loperative position, and wiper means mounted on the face of said pad member at itsopposite edge portions in such position that upon movements of the supporting member toward the roller a selected portion of the wiper means is pressed against the face of the roller as controlled by the adjustment of the pad member.

5. A wiper device for distributing moisture on a roller of a. wet process duplicating machine for the application of a film of moisture to a sheet moving forwardly in contact with the'roller, comprising in combination a supporting member in the form of a channel'movable toward 75 and from said roller, means for moving the supthereof vin such, position ship with said roller and adjustable manually porting member toward the roller. a pad member inthe fonn of an elongated bar of resilient compressible material having a snug working nt in said channel so as to be held normally in operative position in the channel but readily reversible manually therein and movable thereby into pressure relationship with' said roller, and wiper means mounted on the face of said pad member at a plurality of dinerent face portions thereof in such position that upon movements of the supporting member toward the roller a selected portion of the wiper means is pressed against the face of the roller as controlled by the adjustment of the pad member.

6. A wiper device for distributing moisture on a roller of a wet process duplicating machine for the application oi' a nlm of the moisture to a sheet moving forwardly in contact with the roller, comprising in combination a supporting member movable toward and from said roller, means for moving the supporting member toward 'the roller, a pad member formed of resilient compressible material on said supporting member so as to be movable thereby into pressure relationship with said roller and adjustable manually on the supporting member for bringing dinerent face portions of the pad member into operative position, and wiper means in the form of-ab' sorbent rsheet material covering at least the edge portions of one face of the pad member so that upon movements oi' the supporting member toward the roller a selected portion of the wiper means is pressed against the face of the roller as controlled by the adjustment of the pad member.

7. A wiper device for distributing moisture on a roller of a wet process duplicating machine for the application of a nlm of the moisture to a sheet moving forwardly in contact witli the roller, comprising in combination a supporting member movable toward and from said roller, means for moving the supporting member toward the roller, a pad member formed of resil ient compressible material on said supporting memberso as to be movable thereby into pressure relationship with said roller and adjustable manually on the supporting member for bringing dinerent face portions of the pad member into operative position, and wiper means in the form of a sheet of absorbent material covering completely one face of said pad member so that upon -movements of the supporting member toward the roller a selected portion of the wiper means is pressed against the face of the roller as controlled by the adjustment of the pad member.

8. A wiper device for distributing moisture on a roller of a wet process duplicating vmachine for the application of a n lmof the moisture to a sheet moving forwardly in contactv with the roller, comprising in combination a supporting member movable toward and from said roller,

means for moving thesupporting member toward the roller, a pad member formed of resilient com-- pressible material on said supporting member so as to be movable thereby into pressure relationship with said roller and adjustable manually on the supporting member for bringing diilerent face portions of the pad member into operative position, and wiper means in the form oi' a tube of absorbent material surrounding the pad member so that upon movements of the supporting membe toward the roller a selected portion of the wiper means is pressed against the face ci the roller as controlled by the adjustment of the pad member.

9. A wiper device for distributing moisture on a roller of a wet process duplicating machine for the application of a nlm of the moisture to a sheet moving forwardly in contact with the roller, comprising in combination' a supporting member movable toward and from said roller, means for moving the supporting member toward the roller. a pad member in the form o'i' an elongated bar of rubber on said supporting member so as to be movable thereby into pressure relationship with said roller and adjustable manually on the supporting member for bringing erent face portions of the pad member into operative position, and wiper means mounted on the face of said pad member at its opposte' edge portions in such position that upon movements of the supporting member toward 'the roller a selected portion of the wiper means is pressed against the face of the roller as controlled by the adjustment of the pad member.

l0. A wiper device for distributing moisture on a roller of a wet process duplicating machine for the application of a nlm of the moisture to a sheet moving forwardly in contact with the roller, comprising in combination a supporting member movable toward and vfrom said roller, means for moving the supporting member toward ythe roller. a pad member in the form of anelongated bar of rubber on said supporting member so as to be movable thereby into pressure relationship with said roller and adjustable manually on the supporting member. for bringing dierent face portions of the pad member into operative position, andwip'er means in the form of a sheet of absorbent material covering one face of said pad member so .that upon movements of the supporting member toward the roller a selected portion of the wiper means is pressed against the face `ci? the roller as controlled by the adjustment ofthe pad member.

1l. A wiper device for distributing moisture on a roller of a wet process duplicating machine for the application of a nlm of the moisture to a sheet moving forwardly in contact with the roller, comprising in combination a supporting member movable toward and from said roller, means for moving the supporting member toward the roller, a pad member in'the form of an elongated bar ofsponse rubber on said supporting member so as to be movable thereby into pressure relationship with said roller and adjustable manually on thev supporting member for bringing dinerent face portions of the pad member into operative position, and wiper means in the form of a sheet of absorbent material covering one face of-said pad member so that upon movements of the supporting member toward the roller a selected portion oi' the wiper means is pressed against the face of the roller as controlled by the adjustment of the pad member.

l2. A wiper device for distributing moisture on a roller of a wet process duplicating machine for the application of a nlm of the moisture to a sheet moving forwardly in contact with the roller, comprising in combination a supporting member movable toward and from said roller, means for moving the supporting member toward the roller, a pad member in the form of an elongatedbar of .sponge rubber on said supporting member so as to be movable thereby into pressure relationship with said roller and adjustable operative position, and wiper means in the form wiper means in of a sheet of felt completely covering one face of said bar.

13. A wiper device for distributing moisture on a roller of a wet process duplicating machine for the application of a film of the moisture to a sheet moving forwardly in contact with the roller, comprising in combination a supporting member movable toward and from said roller, means for moving the supporting member toward the roller, a pad member in the form of an elongated bar of sponge rubber on said supporting member soas to be movable thereby into pressure relationship with said roller and adjustable manually on the supporting member for bringing at least four different face portionsA of the pad member into operative position, and the form of a tube of felt about said bar so that upon movements of the supporting member toward the roller a selected portion of the wiper means is pressed against the face o the roller as controlled by the adjustment of the pad member.

14. A wiper device for distributing moisture on a roller of a wet process duplicating machine for the application of a film of the moisture to a sheet moving forwardly in contact with the roller, comprising in combination a supporting member movable toward and from said roller, means for moving the supporting member toward the roller, a pad member in the form of an elongated bar of sponge rubber on said supporting member so as to be movable thereby into pressure relationship with said roller and adjustable manually on the supporting member for bringing diierent face portions of the pad member into operative position` and wiper means in the form of two strips of felt covering opposite marginal portions of one face of said bar so that upon movements of the supporting member toward the roller said strips of felt are brought alternatively into engagement with the face of the roller as 20 controlled by the adjustment of said pad member.

OBERT F. MORRISON. ERIC W. PETERSON. 

